Following last year’s F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test success, the series has today announced the return of the Rookie Test for 2026, alongside the launch of a new Rookie Training Camp, supported by Loughborough University.
Photo: F1 Academy
The Rookie Training Camp and Rookie Test have been designed to help identify, develop, and support the strongest talent from an increasingly competitive and global pool of female drivers.
Working together, F1 ACADEMY and Loughborough University have created a program that equips the next generation of female drivers with the knowledge and skills needed to accelerate their development both on and off the track. It will also provide valuable, science-backed insights into female athlete development, performance progression, and transition challenges, helping to advance understanding across the wider motorsport ecosystem.
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Eighteen female drivers, all eligible to compete in F1 ACADEMY in the future, have been selected to take part in the Rookie Training Camp at Loughborough University from August 25–27, 2026, before concluding with the on-track Rookie Test at Circuito de Navarra from September 8–10, 2026.
During the Rookie Training Camp, drivers will undertake a range of assessments, including physiological profiling, cognitive testing, and VALD performance screening. They will also attend seminars and interactive workshops led by Loughborough University experts, covering topics such as strength and conditioning, performance lifestyle, resilience, and the key behaviors that underpin success in elite sports.
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At the Rookie Test, drivers will be immersed within an F1 ACADEMY team environment, observing driver briefings and engineering sessions and gaining first-hand insight into the operational demands of competing at the highest levels of junior single-seater racing. They will also take part in media briefings and assessment activities to help prepare them for the off-track responsibilities of a professional racing career. The on-track test will conclude with the drivers getting behind the wheel of F1 ACADEMY machinery.
Drivers selected to participate in the 2026 Rookie Test and training camp:
- Milla Sjöstrand
- Victoria Farfus
- Sara Matsui
- Kareen Kaur
- Eva Dorrestijn
- Sofia Zanfari
- Ella Lähdemaa
- Autumn Fisher
- Kokoro Sato
- Ginevra Panzeri
- Zoe Florescu
- Luna Fluxa
- Carmen Kraav
- Alexia Danielsson
- Jordyn Deza-Martin
- Rosanne Den Drijver
- Clara Stiebleichinger
- Yana Kapoor
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“The success of our inaugural Rookie Test in 2025 demonstrated both the depth of female racing talent coming through the pathway and the importance of providing opportunities for drivers to showcase their potential,” Katie Denver, performance & talent development manager of F1 ACADEMY, commented.
“For 2026, we’re taking the program a step further with the introduction of the Rookie Training Camp, delivered with Loughborough University. This gives us the opportunity to support drivers not only on track, but also through a science-backed approach to athlete development, helping them better understand their physical, cognitive, and behavioral performance.” Denver said. “By combining world-class expertise, research, and on-track experience, we’re creating an environment where drivers can accelerate their development and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed both on and off the track.”
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Lou Gear, director of sport at Loughborough University, added: “We are incredibly proud to welcome F1 Academy and its rookie drivers to Loughborough. This collaboration brings together two organizations with a shared belief in the power of talent, hard work, opportunity, and world-class performance environments to unlock extraordinary potential.”
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“At Loughborough Sport, we have spent generations supporting athletes to pursue excellence on the world stage, and we see many shared values in F1 Academy’s commitment to developing the next generation of female racing talent. Together, we are passionate about creating environments where ambitious young people can thrive, pursue excellence and fulfill their potential,” Gear added.
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“We look forward to sharing our expertise, learning from one another and helping these exceptional drivers prepare for the demands of elite competition. Most importantly, this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to championing women in sports, creating more opportunities for talented female athletes to excel and inspiring the next generation to believe that there is no limit to what they can achieve,” the director of sport at Loughborough University noted.
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